I-77 Reopened in W.Va. Following Nat-Gas Explosion

Interstate 77 north of Charleston, W.Va., was reopened Wednesday morning following a huge natural-gas explosion on Tuesday afternoon, the Charleston Gazette reported.

Four homes were destroyed and five damaged when a 20-inch gas line exploded Tuesday, closing traffic in both directions on the interstate, the Associated Press reported.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said a roughly 800-foot section of both directions of the interstate was baked by the blast and subsequent fire, AP reported.

National Transportation Safety Board investigators were at the scene, near Sissonville, W.Va., Wednesday morning to investigate the incident, the Gazette reported.

No one was killed, although several people were treated for smoke inhalation, the newspaper said.